Combined table and desk



(No Model.)

T. J. FORD.

COMBINED TABLE AND DESK. No. 328,475. Patented Oct. 20, 1885.

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THOMAS J. FORD, OF GENEVA, OHIO.

COMBINED TABLE AND DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,475, dated October 2.0, 1885.

Application filed April 2, 1885. Serial No. 161,082.

T 0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. FORD, of Geneva, in the county of Ashtabula and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Table and Desk, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an article of household furniture; and it consists of a center-table having combined therewith a writingdesk cabinet of peculiar construction and adaptation, as hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of this invention is to provide the table with a peculiar cabinet arranged in its central part in such a manner that the said table may be instantly converted into a convenient double writing-desk, and as readily and easily reduced again to a table of the ordinary appearance.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows the table in its ordinary appearance. Fig. 2 shows the same converted into a double writing-desk. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 4 is an under side View of the table-top, showing a latching mechanism for holding the cabinet either in elevated or lowered positions. Figs. 5 and 6 show modifications of mechanisms for elevating the cabinet.

A is the table-top, supported upon a central frame-work, B, forming a chamber below said top, and provided at the lower corners with legs 00. This constitutes a complete centertable. Through the top A is made an open ing the size of a cabinet which is to fit into it and leading into said chamber.

D is a cabinet, made to slide within said opening, and is arranged to be raised out of or lowered into said chamber by mechanisms hereinafter described. Said cabinet has two of its sides provided with doors E, hinged at their lower sides, so that when it is elevated said doors may be turned down, thus forming convenient writing-desks, and both fronts of the cabinet are opened, exposing the pigeon-holes, &c. The cabinet is automatically raised by means of counterbalance-weights or springs, as follows:

F F are rollers or long pulleys journaled in the frame-work B, over which a webbing or cords, f f, pass, one end being secured to the lower corners of the cabinet, and the other end provided with weights IV. Instead of Said weights and webbing there may be sub- (No model.)

stituted vertical rods G, secured at their lower ends in a bar of the frame-work, and their upper ends passed through holes in the bottom of the cabinet, which serve as guides for the cabinet to ride upon. Below the cabinet said rods are provided with coiled springs s, the expansion of which serves to lift the cabinet. In lieu of these rods and their springs there may be employed horizontal shafts H, inclosed in spiral springs s and journaled in the frame-work, said shafts being provided with levers L, having links Z, to be connected to the sides of the cabinet, one of such levers located on two opposite sides of the cabinet, the tension of the springs 8' serving to lift the cabinet.

The latching device hereinbefore mentioned consists of two sliding pieces, M M, fixed ways m m to the under side surface of the top A and at each end of the top opening. At the sides of said opening, near the side edges of the top, are placed sliding blocks N N, working in ways a a. At each side of the said sliding blocks are pivoted angle-levers k 70, one end of said levers connecting with the said blocks N, the other ends connected by links or rodsrr with bars t t on the aforesaid sliding pieces M M. Between the bars it and the ends of the frame of top A are interposed springs uu, for pressing the said pieces M toward the opening in the table-top. In the sides of the cabinet D are made slots (1 d, near the top and bottom corners, in which the aforesaid pieces M catch, and by means of which the cabinet is latched and held either in the elevated or lowered position.

The working of this mechanism is as follows: The cabinet being down, as shown in Fig. 1,

to raise it the operator places his hand under the tabletop at either side, grasps the block N, and giving it a pull the sliding pieces MM are withdrawn from the slots, which releases the cabinet from their hold. Then the cabinet immediately rises by the power of the weights WV, (or the springs s or s, if they are used instead of the weights.) To lower the cabinet, withdraw the catches and push it down by hand.

I am aware that it is not new to provide a table with a cabinet capable of being lowered within the frame work thereof. I do not claim such tables in a broad sense; but

B Working therein, of the latching mechanism consisting of the sliding pieces M M, riding in the ways m m, blocks N N, sliding in Ways n n, angle-levers k 70, connected to pieces M M by links 1" r, and the springs u u, whereby the said cabinet is secured in either the elevated or lowered positions, as specified.

THOMAS J. FORD.

Witnesses:

F. WV. OADWELL, GEO. W. TIBBITTS. 

